Understanding Benefits

Responsible Investing

Through the ELCA Pension and Other Benefits Program, Portico strives to empower members to live well for life — physically, financially, and emotionally. By living well as whole people of God, we can better enhance the lives of others — doing God’s work in Christ’s name for the sake of the world.

The Habit of Saving

Saving — now that's something a lot of people do NOT want to talk about. Why? They have other financial issues or they just don't think it's important. Is it important? YES!

My husband and I were married in 1956, and we made very little money. I think his annual income at that time was around $6,000. He always said, "When I finally make $12,000 a year, we'll be on easy street." Now don't snicker … that was big money back then.

No, we couldn't save a lot; however, we decided that we would save the additional money each time he got a raise. We never put it in the budget at all. The money went directly to our savings account where he worked. We always worked within a budget, and it wasn't easy. Our night out was twice a month on payday, and that was usually a pizza. Yes, they had pizza back then, too.

I began working for the ELCA in June 1989, and have always saved consistently. Today, with retirement on the horizon, I am happy to say, "Boy, am I glad I did!"

Contacts

Portico Customer Care Center

Plan member rights under the plans are governed by the plan documents, which are the full, legal descriptions of the plans. If any of the information on this page is inconsistent with the corresponding plan document, the plan document is the controlling document.